Chris Paul To Doc Rivers During His Son’s Game 3 Explosion: ‘This Is One Time You Can Be His Dad’

Navigating the obstacles of fatherhood has never been easy. Compound that struggle with the difficult relationship between the coach and the player on a professional sports team, and you have the situation Doc Rivers finds himself in with son Austin Rivers, who was a mid-season pickup by the Clippers to act as backup point guard for Chris Paul.

But after his stunning display to help save the Clippers’ season in Game 4 of their first-round crusade against the defending champion Spurs, Austin again rocked the NBA world with his 25 points to team with J.J. Redick’s game-high 31 for a 124-99 Game 3 win over the Rockets in Los Angeles.

Austin was playing so well at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth, Chris Paul even took time to tell Doc Rivers on the sideline, “This is the one time you can be his dad, and not be his coach.”

If that doesn’t choke you up, then nothing about sports ever will. Austin is routinely lambasted on Twitter as riding the coattails of his championship-winning father. He had one of the worst rookie years in NBA history, but he’s worked hard to improve his game, and his ability to score off the bench in these playoffs has been instrumental in LA’s 2-1 advantage in the Conference Semifinals. CP3 just wanted to acknowledge that fact, since he’s a father himself.

You always have to be “Dad” first, and everything else second after you create life; that’s the deal. Doc’s had to flip that script as coach of the Clippers, since the team has to take precedence over the on-court struggles of his son. It’s nice Doc’s been rewarded on both fronts by getting to watch two of the best game’s of son’s life in the pressure cooker that is the NBA Playoffs. It’s OK for Doc to take a moment and revel in his son’s achievements, even with a long road to glory still ahead.

(BBALLBREAKDOWN)

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